China wants stronger practical economic cooperation with Bangladesh

Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Zhang Zuo addressing a roundtable discussion on ‘China-Bangladesh Communication, Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism for Industry Enterprises under Belt and Road Initiative’ held in a city hotel. Photo: UNB/DC

After Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, 103 countries and international organizations have signed cooperation agreements with China. People from relevant countries, China believes, are having an increasing sense of gain.

A brighter prospect of the BRI, the Chinese government says, is being carved out with the interconnected and simultaneous development of multiple “roads of dreams”, including the Blue Economy Corridor, the Sky Silk Road and the Digital Silk Road.

During the successful state visit of President Xi to Bangladesh in October 2016, bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and China was elevated to Strategic Partnership of Cooperation, which started a new chapter in the BRI.

Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Zhang Zuo, on September 11, laid emphasis on building an effective platform of discussion, sharing and mutual help to further enhance the practical economic cooperation between Bangladesh and China.

“We continue to strengthen our coordination, and push for signing an MoU on the cooperation of the mechanism in order to build it into a platform of discussion, sharing and mutual help, a platform of win-win cooperation and friendship,” he said was addressing a roundtable discussion on ‘China-Bangladesh Communication, Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism for Industry Enterprises under Belt and Road Initiative’ held in a city hotel.

The Chinese Ambassador said the friendship between Bangladesh and can be dated way back into history, yet it stays young and fresh.

“I hope the industry enterprises from two sides could enhance mutual trust, strengthen communication and coordination, work together to become partners of mutual benefits, and actively contribute to the practical economic cooperation between our two nations,” he added.

The Chinese envoy said the bilateral relationship was elevated to Strategic Partnership of Cooperation which started a new chapter in the BRI.

In 2017, bilateral trade value reached US$ 16 billion, 5.8 percent higher than last year, with China remaining the number one trade partner to Bangladesh; the engineering contracts signed between Bangladesh and Chinese companies reached US$ 10.4 billion, second in the South Asian region.

In the first half of this year, our bilateral trade value stands at US$ 9.35 billion, with a growth rate of 17.6 percent year on year; the contracts signed are worth US$ 3.57 billion, a growth rate of 8.6 percent year-on-year.

The Chine Ambassador put forward several suggestions for the establishment of China-Bangladesh Communication, Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism for Industry Enterprises under Belt and Road Initiative.

The people of China and Bangladesh have jointly written down a splendid chapter of common development and strong complementarities with mutual respect and equality, he said.

Zhuang Lifeng said Overseas Chinese Association in Bangladesh has become a platform of win-win cooperation and common development for our two countries people under the Belt and Road Initiative.

“Now the Belt and Road Initiative has entered its 5th year, unprecedented historic development opportunities have opened up for industries for our two countries, along with challenges as well,” he said.

Zhuang Lifeng said they believe China-Bangladesh Communication, Cooperation and Coordination for industries under Belt and Road Initiative will facilitate closer economic exchanges and cooperation, spur the growth of Chinese enterprises, attract more Chinese investment, and further boost the economic development of Bangladesh.

“We’re committed to working together with you in this regard,” he said.

In the coming future, he said, Overseas Chinese Association in Bangladesh is determined to forge ahead, under the leadership of Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, with support from the Ministry of Industries of Bangladesh, to make greater contributions to the development of friendship.

Zhuang Lifeng laid emphasis on win-win cooperation between two countries, as well as the fulfillment of the dreams of Chinese national rejuvenation and Sonar Bangla.

Bangladesh officials said the government is committed to working together with China and said Bangladesh-China relations will grow with the overall growth of Asia.

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